Loughborough
Loughborough is a thriving market town most famous for its bell casting, for bells manufactured here ring out across the world. Bells have been cast in Loughborough since 1858 when the bell-foundry of John Taylor moved to the town from Oxford. They have cast many famous bells, including Great Paul for St Paul's Cathedral in London, the largest bell that rings in England. Great Paul stands 9ft high and weighs almost 17 tons. Campanologists and others seriously interested in the art of bell casting may, on request, visit John Taylor's famous foundry.
Bells are a recurring motif in the town. As a memorial to those who died in the First World War, Loughborough built a carillon of 47 bells, which is housed in a 150ft high bell tower in Queen's Park. Built in 1923, the main part of the tower is constructed of small red bricks rising 87ft from the ground, beyond which is an overhanging wooden gallery with 16 pillars supporting its roof. Above this roof rises a smaller octagonal gallery, above which is a turret with a cupola roof ending in a golden ball and crowned with a cross. A climb of 138 steps will take the fittest visitors to the top, passing as they go a small museum room.
Loughborough's Church of All Saints has a bell tower 500 years older than the tower of the Grand Carillon with a peal of 10 bells. A large and prosperous parish church, like many in Leicestershire it dates mainly from the 14 th century but was so much restored in 1862 by Sir Gilbert Scott that it retains a 19 th century appearance. The lofty clerestory, as with the powerful tower, is of 15 th century origin; so to is the wall tablet commemorating the town's most notable benefactor, Thomas Burton who died in the 15 th century. He was a prosperous wool merchant and as his monument relates, was mindful of the poor.
Loughborough is the second largest town in the county, grown prosperous through the hosiery trade. In the early days of the stocking loom it was the scene of more than one riot by the Luddites, who opposed industrialisation. In the mid 19 th century John Heathcote witnessed 55 of his machines being destroyed, afterwhich he was driven from the town following an affray.
The Old Rectory is a 13 th and 14 th century building with a fine gabled front. In 1962 the 19 th century additions were demolished and the partially roofed remains opened as a museum. The strikingly Italianate Town Hall, standing in the Market Place, was built in 1855 but the interior had to be extensively restored after suffering a fire in 1972.